Chinese writing basics.

An easy and universal script!

This is of course a joke! Learning the Chinese writing is extremely challenging. Without this major

The sun behind a tree = East

difficulty, it could however be universal. By using ideograms (1) drawn without reference to an alphabet of sounds, communication is freed from the constraints of the spoken language. The graphics are representing objects and concepts in an often very schematic way (2).

A similar system develops again in the modern world. Symbols are used to express ideas and to transmit message which can be quickly assimilated, without being decoded through sounds. This is, to some extent, the reinvention of the writing in Chinese characters.

On roads, at the stations and in airports, signalization panels are burgeoning. Words are replaced by simplified images or drawings with an obvious visual meaning. “

“Nose toward the sky” on takeoff, the symbol of a plane announces “departures”, “check in” or a “bus stop for the airport” depending on the posting environnement. The message is expressed without the use of the hermetic phonemes of the oral communication. Pictograms have the advantage to be universally understood.

Realistic crossed out fruit

Graphic signs might be combined to extend their meanings and convey specific messages. Crossing an image indicates nega

tion or prohibition, for instance over a cigarette, a mobile phone or a durian (3) all not allowed in certain public areas. A square represents a mouth, an opening or a tunnel. Combined with other caracters, it shows an underpass and his direction if an arrow is added.

Streching this concept to the limits and with the respect of some conventions, a succession of signalisation panels could express a whole sentence, breaking the barriers of spoken languages. This « picturesque » way to describe objects and ideas is an original characteristic of the Chinese writing. Without a tonal alphabet and the necessity to convert words to sounds, it is used to communicate in various languages, not only in all Chinese dialects, but partially in Japanese and Korean.

Mouth-man-direction = pointing to underpath

By investing the time necessary to master a few thousand ideograms, one is equipped with a sort or writing esperanto (4), a universal mean of communication. Nowadays, a billion and a half people make this effort, more or less voluntarily. In ancien times, the Chinese characters were used in several asian countries. They were completely replaced by locally designed alphabeths in Thailand and in Vietnam and are used only partially in Korea and in Japan (5). These changes were intended to reduce the time needed to acquire literacy. The gain in speed took his toll on the universality of the writing.

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(1) “Logograms” , “ideograms” , “sinograms” or “pictograms” are nuances used in linguistics publications and are not useful within the restricted framework of this blog.

(2) Waves of simplifications of the Chinese writing (the most recent at the occasion of the Cultural revolution) do not always contribute to universal comprehension. The characters become different between periods and counties. Taiwan, for example, preserved the traditional characters whereas continental China adopted the wave of simplifications.

(3) Durian. The king of the exotic fruits but with a very strong odor. Reference: http://mybanyan.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/smells-like-hellsmells-like-hell

(4) Esperanto is a built language, conceived at the end of the XIXe century by Ludwik Leizer Zamenhof with an aim of facilitating the communication between people of different languages through the whole world. http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto

(5) In Korea and Japan a system was set up combining an alphabet of local design with Chinese characters, often used in a phonetic way.

left - east - exit (mouth)

This blog was originally written in French and translated with the assistance of Babelfish

(http://babelfish.yahoo.com).

It’s Molly lucky time

Finally the luckiest month of the century is here. Molly is getting her chance … even so she does not wear the luckiest of all numbers with her “010808″! But it’s not bad! Why are we all waiting till August 8th to start? Something to do with Chinese believes?

See our former post about the “ultimate luck”

http://mybanyan.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/the-ultimate-luckthe-ultimate-luck

http://mybanyan.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/une-chance-unique

Molly designer toys site :

http://www.kinkirobot.com/

Molly was created by Kenny Wong  http://www.kennyswork.com/

Catching up with time.

June 25, 1988.

In the early morning hours, as Europe is still chasing unfinished dreams, noon has crossed the nineteenth meridian. As I wake up, my first thoughts are to imagine a wet torpor wrapping up midday hours in a mythic, exotic and remote Orient; a reality as of tomorrow.

A few hours flight suffice to accelerate time. Whilst traveling against the sun, the lag of the internal clock is fostered by a precarious sleep, rocked by the vibrations of the engines. Eleven hours of flight, sixteen hours on a clock, it is early morning in Bangkok, the first stopover. Furtively, time has shrunken.

East bound around the South Pacific

Two week spent to discover South-East Asia, jumping around the 100e meridian, have faded-out all references to time. After Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta and Bali are in neighboring zones. Finally, before taking-off towards Australia, one single hour is added to the lost time.

Touching ground in Sydney, the journey continues towards the Fiji islands where the date line diverts from the anti-meridian (1), allowing Tonga to stay in the same day. This sector added another 5 hours to the time deficit (6 hours when compared to Greenwich). After three weeks of travel, half a day has melted. Nevertheless, losing four minutes for every degree of longitude crossed, is meaningless in the vast Pacific.

A few days later, the tour continues. Takeoff from Nadi, stopover in Rarotonga and arrival in Faa, airport of Papetee, eight hours later… the previous day! Going back in time is improbable and it is easy to be amazed by this phenomenon. The culprit is an imaginary line, roughly drawn on the antipodes of the prime meridian (Greenwich). Depending on the direction of rotation, the crossing of this demarcation, adds or retracts one day from the travelers journey.

Time is melting

Actually, minutes “saved” whilst traveling to the east are restored at once, with an additional credit of twelve hours, to be written down during the second part of the trip.

Magellan’s sailors, after their circumnavigation, already created astonishment as they were living on a different day, as attested by a precise log. On its side, Filias Fog, Jules Vernes’ hero, took advantage of one additionnel day to win his eastbound race around the world (2).

Polynesia, Hawaii, United States two more weeks of strolling before returning to Europe, 35 days later … actually after a round the world trip of 36 days averaging 23 hours and 20 minutes.

29 juillet 1988.

(1) meridian of 180° longitude

(2) Jules Vernes; Around the World in 80 days

The ultimate luck!

“08.08.08” an exceptionnel date in our millennium! Among other remarkable series this one is particularly important to the Chinese tradition. The opening day of the Beijing olympique games is truly auspicious for athletes and… weddings.

Some lucky ... some not

Superstition, very alive in that culture, has promoted the number “8” to a key symbol of luck. Its power as an “amulet” it linked to a banal homophony with the word ” wealth“ (“Ba”/” Fa”). The figure “4″ on its side, is strongly avoided and pays a tribut to its phonic resemblance with “death” (“si”). The strength of such symbols can be measured in economic terms, as high amounts may be paid to acquire lucky numbers. Car plates, driving licences, mobile phone numbers as well as house addresses or auspicious bank accounts are particularly thought after. Another example of this powerful figure is the majestic “Jin Mao” tower in Shanghai (Hyatt hotel), with its 88 stories.

Ostensibly displayed series of “8s” are status symbols. The number “4”, on the other hand, is often removed from series and elevator plates. Westerners are amused about eastern attachment to numerology. In the west rationalism and the fading out of traditions has erased many superstitions. “Friday the 13th ” however… and in many buildings the 13th floor is also avoided. The “7″ often has a positive connotation whereas ” 666″ does still impresses the initiated. Beliefs in the power of numbers have there roots in a religious or phonic context. References and meanings vary drastically with places, cultures and languages, highlighting how irrational they are. However, this evidence does not shake convictions, deeply anchored in popular traditions.

Fostering luck with a handful of “8s” is probably impossible. Nevertheless, the possession of an “expensive” good omen

number is an outstanding social symbol. Avoiding dreaded figures is just its antithesis!

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Some doubts … maybe!

This article is quoted from “The Epoch Times” (May 20th, 2008,)

“What Does the Auspicious Number 8 Portend for China?”

The following is making the rounds these days in Chinese internet chat rooms.

The number 8 is a lucky number in Chinese culture. That is why the Beijing Olympics chose to start at 8 p.m. on August 8 (8/8/08). Here is what has happened this year.

1/25 brought a giant snow storm, a disaster from the sky.

3/14 brought the suppression in Tibet, a disaster from humans.

5/12 brought the earth quake, a disaster from the ground.

1+2+5 = 8

3+1+4 = 8

5+1+2 = 8

8/8/08 is date for the Olympics.

The 5/12 earthquake is 88 days away from the Olympic date of 8/8/08.

In Chinese culture, numbers in the calendar are often used in prophecy.

Similar blog story : http://monicabaylon.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/080808/

Hot Taste!

Tom yam kung … a dangerous path! The hottest of all Thai soups owes its burning effect to a small pepper in the shape of a “mouse shit” (1). A generous spoonful of this soup nicely tints in »aubergine » the incredulous face of ill-informed consumers. Hilarious initiated neighbours will rejoice in remembering their own baptism of fire. Burnings in the mouth, puffs of heat, intense sweat, all hardly calmed by large glass of ice water.

Thai kitchen abounds in traps! Sometimes red, sometimes green, the small peppers are hidden everywhere and appear in the most unexpected places, even penetrating the apparent sweetness of certain desserts.

« Vegetable-spices », these condiments are so perfectly integrated in several Asian kitchens that their South American origin comes as an amazement. The flow of exchanges fostered during the century of the famous explorers, some 500 years ago brought them to this continent.

Chillies have a near to neutral taste. The strong sensations linked to their consumption are produced by an intense signal on the pain sensors located in the mouth and throat, simulating for example the swallowing of a too hot coffee.

The culprit of this « apparent » burnings is the capsicum oil contained in the flesh and seeds of the peppers. Not very soluble in water it binds with the sensors and resist the washing with drinks usually available to consumers. The casein of a glass of milk or yoghurt would be a good detergent. Without this available, a piece of bread or a spoonful of rice is of some help.

Peppers are found in various forms in the different Asian kitchens. Usually fresh, in powder or incorporated in a sauce (nam preek) in Thailand, they are a component of Sambal  in Indonesia, Sichuan chili paste in China, kochujang in Korea and tuong ot toi in Vietnam.

iThe feeling of pain produced by peppers has also positive effects. The brain reacts by producing endorphin, generating a sense of pleasure. Once the practice is acquired, eating hot meals becomes addictive. Consumption of chillies brings many other benefits linked to their content in vitamins and the therapeutic effects of capsicum.

Thai « Singha » beer, popular with travellers, can be replaced with a glass of milk to accompany spicy dishes. Instead of this, one might prefer to indulge in the « attaching » warmth of hot Asian meals.

1. Preek Kee Noo

Reference : Wikipedia

Asia

A shadow puppet

Like a shadow puppet on the blafard horizon, a tree is cut out against a fireball. This it how mandarins write the character for East. Middle Kingdom (1), country of the Fresh and Calm Mornings (2), island where the Sun Rises (3), this is the Far East of the Westerners. Beyond Japan and the Sakhalin island or to the South of the Philippines and Indonesia, Asia fades out in the huge Pacific. Further South West, the Indian Ocean takes over, bathing the coast of Malaysia and Sri Lanka, down to India and Pakistan.

Located on the same continental plate, Europe and Asia have less obvious borders. From the Dardanelles to the Bosphorus or running through the Ural mountains, the political frontiers do not match the underlying structures.

Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Russia overlap the two regions and are often excluded in a restricted definitions of Asia.

Logically and culturally, Asia starts with the Indian Subcontinent and includes Mongolia in the North. Even when amputated of a part of Central Asia, this area remains one of the most extended and most populated part of the World, sheltering half of the inhabitants of the planet. The biggest treasure and attraction of this continent is it’s extreme diversity with a wealth of ethnic groups, languages, writings, different religions, political regimes, cultural practices and gastronomic delicacies.

Indian Subcontinent, South-East Asia, Far East, the mysteries of the rising sun still fascinate many Westerners, whereas others are reluctant to face the unknown and experiment differences. However, in less than twenty years, a overwhelming wave of similarities has ironed out many specificities. The quest for the East becomes more subtle but the approach remains rewarding.

1. China (Middle Kingdom)

2 Korea (Morning Calm)

3.Japan (Roots of the Sun)

References: Wikipedia (Asia)

This article was translated from French with the help of Yahoo Babel Fish.

Smells like hell?

Markets in South East Asia and Chinatowns all around the world are sometimes filled with a strong and slightly strange odor. It is the season of durians (1), the king of fruits. They look roughly like prehistoric rugby balls, covered with large trianguler spins and so generous is fragrance that they do not have to be opened to be recognised from far.

«Smells like hell, taste like heaven»! The reputation to be one of the most stinky thing precedes the encounter of this fruit by travelers. This arbitrary qualifier is a disrespectful manner to treat a fruit, little known out of Asia, but held in high regard in this continent.

The durian is originally from Malaysia and Indonesia where his name means “covered of spines”. It matures on trees reaching sizeable dimensions, at the image of the fruits that they carry. The cultivation of the durian also extended towards Thailand, in particular the South, in the province of Chantaburi, the greatest zone of current production. It’s popularity is reflected in it’s prices which depends on the variety and quality, but remains always high. It is a fruit of great luxury.

For the Chinese the durian heats the body and is often eaten with fruits reducing this effect. In Indonesia and Malaysia people believe that his consumption has aphrodisiac virtues. Despite popular devotion, he is usually banished in public transportations, hotels and other places where his strong presence is not compatible with promiscuity or lack of ventilation.

The king of the fruits is appreciated for his delicacy and his nobility by millions of Asians, often shocked and puzzled by the scatologic qualifiers that foreigners use to describe him. This huge difference in appreciation cannot be objective, it is a state of mind. In a striking way, the example of durians illustrates more subtle conditionnements of our brains, that we are often not aware of.

In himself the durian has neither nauseous odors, nor a delicious taste. These qualifications are given by our conditioned mind, in reaction to measures transmitted by the nose and the mouth. The scent of this fruit is strong, that’s all! The other appreciations refer to our life experience, analysed and filed by our brain. This system generates useful signals, like warnings or attractions. Nevertheless, if left without control, our mind also produces less advantageous associations.

Bad taste, disgusting smell, unbearable vision, unpleasant feelings, cacophonous music, these are all conditionnements related to negative experiments or not controlled associations of our brain. In the later case, and without even trying, we might miss many opportunities to discover new treasures. Indulging a durian is just one example. If we fail to open our mind and to prepare ourselves for a neutral approach, we might remain estranged to a whole culture.

What millions of humans finds delicious, beautiful, fragrant, sensual and harmonious cannot really be completely reverse for the others. The difficulty is to master our mind and to keep an open and neutral approach of new experiments. The benefits of such an attitude are immediate, for example the satisfaction to appreciate a durian.

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Durian discrimination

These are some qualification of the odor of the durian found on Internet sites :

« smelling like stinky socks » , »it smells like a poorly maintained public convenience », »It smelled like someone's 2-year-old had a stomach ailment about a week before and no one had carried off the soiled nappies yet ». « Like eating custard in a sewer ». "It smells like a poorly maintained public convenience but the taste is worse!".

References:

1(May – Octobre).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian

http://www.durianpalace.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odor

The nicest singer … the best fruit :)

Interview is in French … the “fruity” part (durian and sambal chilies) is somewhere in the middle. No harm to watch the whole video if you like French jokes or if you are a fan of Anggun.

C’est en français … la partie consacrée aux fruits d’Asie se trouve vers le milieu (durian et piments sambal). Il n’est pas gênant de regarder l’ensemble, pour les amateurs d’humour gaulois ou les fans d’Anggun.

The Deadly Hug of the Banyan Tree

The Banyan does not come to life in a fairy tale. A fruit-eating bird might one day drop a seed on an elevated spot of an appropriate tree. Starting as a parasite (an epiphyte) is not an auspicious birth. The following years are creepy as the young plant disserves his common name “strangler fig”. Dropping a strong system of aerial roots, he will hug, envelop and finally integrate his dyeing host.

Then the new tree, a majestic banyan, begins his horizontal colonisation. From his big branches, roots are reaching toward the ground, growing into new trunks. This amazing ability allows him to spread over sizeable areas, sculpting a landscape of natural cathedrals.

The banyan originates fro India and Sri Lanka where he is worshiped by Hindus but he is also respected by Buddhists (like in Thailand) or seen as home of spirits in the Philippines.

Without value as timber and with fruits only eaten by insects, birds and bats, the banyan has nevertheless an important role to play in the ecosystem. Humans are (still) respecting him as a big tree, as they are amazed by his tortuous architecture and enjoy the possibility to rest under his wide canopy.

Banyan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banyan references see French text